MTN’S BIG PAYDAY! Telecom Giant Boosts Uganda’s Digital Future With Sh54Bn Injection Into UCC Fund
Part of MTN's leadership team poses for a photo with UCC's Leaders shortly after the cheque handover
MTN Uganda has contributed UGX 54.27 billion to the Uganda Communications Commission’s Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), reinforcing its commitment to digital inclusion and Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
The contribution reflects a steady increase in MTN Uganda’s annual statutory payments, from UGX 36 billion in 2023 to UGX 42.5 billion in 2024, UGX 50.55 billion in 2025 and UGX 27 billion in 2026.
Under Uganda’s regulatory framework, telecommunications operators are required to contribute 2 per cent of annual gross revenue to UCUSAF, which is administered by UCC.
Established in 2001, the fund, formerly the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF), supports connectivity, affordability and equitable access to ICT services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
MTN Uganda has contributed UGX 54.27 billion to the Uganda Communications Commission’s Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), reinforcing its commitment to digital inclusion and Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.
Announced during a handover ceremony at the Uganda Communications Commission headquarters in Kampala, the contribution reflects a steady increase in MTN Uganda’s annual statutory payments, from UGX 36 billion in 2023 to UGX 42.5 billion in 2024, UGX 50.55 billion in 2025 and UGX 54.27 billion in 2026.
Under Uganda’s regulatory framework, telecommunications operators are required to contribute 2 per cent of annual gross revenue to UCUSAF, which is administered by the Uganda Communications Commission.
Established in 2001 and formerly known as the Rural Communications Development Fund (RCDF), UCUSAF supports connectivity, affordability and equitable access to ICT services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Speaking at the event, MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge said the contribution reflects more than regulatory compliance; it also demonstrates a broader commitment to ensuring that all Ugandans can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
“These contributions reflect our belief that every Ugandan, regardless of where they live or what they earn, deserves the benefits of a modern connected life because in today’s world, connection is opportunity,” Mulinge said.
Mulinge said Uganda has made strong progress in expanding access, but significant gaps in digital inclusion remain.
With more than 20 million smartphones connected in a country of over 45 million people, she said the task now is to close the access gap for millions of Ugandans still outside the digital economy.
She said this progress aligns with government’s broader priorities under the FY 2026/27 Budget, which include the expansion of digital infrastructure to increase coverage, reliability and affordability of internet, Government services and e-commerce.
She noted that digital connectivity is now essential to participation in education, trade, financial services, healthcare and employment.
Through its Ambition 2030 agenda and the work of the MTN Foundation, MTN Uganda is taking a more deliberate long-term approach to digital inclusion by investing in the skills, infrastructure and innovation ecosystems needed to expand meaningful participation in the digital economy.
This strategy goes beyond providing connectivity alone. It is focused on building the foundations for innovation and opportunity by supporting digital skills development, widening access to technology, and creating platforms where young people can turn ideas into practical solutions for local challenges.
Over the past three years, MTN Uganda has invested more than UGX 4 billion in the MTN ACE programme, with a further UGX 4 billion planned over the next three years. The programme is designed to strengthen Uganda’s innovation pipeline by supporting hubs and universities across the country, including Nakawa, Busitema, Soroti, Kabale and Gulu, so that access to digital opportunity is not concentrated in Kampala alone.
Across these investments, MTN Uganda is combining physical access, digital training and innovation support to create measurable impact. This includes nearly 70 ICT and computer laboratories in schools, more than 6,000 Ugandans trained through the MTN Internet Bus initiative since 2022, and support for innovators at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa to develop practical solutions such as KaCyber and RideLink. Together, these efforts are expected to benefit more than 20,000 students and community members while helping to build a more inclusive national digital ecosystem.
Mulinge said that as government prioritises digital transformation, the next phase must focus on widening access by making smartphones more affordable, particularly for low-income and underserved communities. Uganda currently applies a 10 per cent import duty and 18 per cent VAT on devices, which continue to limit access for many households, she said.
“Government has rightly prioritised digital transformation, and Uganda has made meaningful progress. The next frontier of inclusion is access. We need to unlock smartphone affordability, because that is the gateway through which millions of Ugandans connect to learning, enterprise, financial services and opportunity,” she said.
UCC Executive Director George William Nyombi Thembo commended MTN Uganda for its consistent and timely contributions to the Universal Service and Access Fund.
“While this contribution is a regulatory obligation for MTN, it represents much more than compliance. It reflects MTN’s continued commitment to the growth of Uganda’s ICT sector. As UCC, we remain committed to working closely with MTN and other industry players to advance ICT development and achieve a fully connected Uganda by 2030,” Thembo said.
MTN Uganda reaffirmed its commitment to working with UCC, government and other stakeholders to deepen digital inclusion and expand access to opportunities across the country.
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